Galapagos Legend
ITINERARY DAY BY DAY
8 days / 7 nights
Sunday to Sunday
Day 1
Arrive at San Cristobal Island / Interpretation Center
Arrival at San Cristobal airport. San Cristobal is the easternmost island in Galapagos; on its southwestern side is the own town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the providence of Galapagos. On Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the Interpretation Center newly opened by the Galapagos National park in 1998, which is truly an extraordinary contribution to the information and education of the islands communities and the travelers; its 80% is focus in the anthropology of the Galapagos, the 20% is scientific. Free time will be offer at leisure in the town.
Day 2
Punta Suarez / Gardner Bay (Espanola Island)
One of the oldest of the islands, Hood is small and flat with no visible volcanic crater or vent. Punta Suarez is one of the most outstanding wildlife areas of the archipelago, with a long list of species found along its cliffs and sand or pebble beaches. In addition to five species of nesting seabirds there is the curious and bold Hood Island mockingbirds, Galapagos doves and Galapagos hawks. Several types of reptiles, including the brilliantly colored marine iguana and the oversized lava lizard, are unique to this island. When heavy swells are running, Punta Suarez is also the site of a spectacular blowhole, with thundering spray shooting 30 yards into the air.
Gardner Bay is on the eastern shore and has a magnificent beach. This beach is frequented by a transient colony of sea lions, and is a major nesting site for marine turtles. Around the small islets nearby, snorkelers will find lots of fish and sometimes turtles and sharks. On a trail leading to the western tip of the island you'll pass the only nesting sites in the Galapagos of the waved albatross, huge birds with a 6-foot wingspan. These huge birds nest here from April to December and represent the majority of the world's population of this species.
Day 3
Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz) / Punta Cormorant (Floreana Island)
Santa Cruz is the only inhabited island to be visited during this Galapagos cruise. Puerto Ayora, with a population of about 10,000 people is the location of the Charles Darwin Research Station, world famous for its tortoise breeding programs. After touring the Station, journey by bus into the highlands to Los Gemelos the two deep pit craters situated in the Scalesia forest with lots of interesting bird life.
Punta Cormorant in Florerana Island offers two highly contrasting beaches; the landing beach is of volcanic origin and is composed of olivine crystals, giving it a greenish tinge. At the end of the short trail is a carbonate beach of very fine white sand, formed by the erosion of coral skeletons; it is a nesting site for green sea turtles. Between these two beaches is a salt lagoon frequented by flamingos, pintails, stilts, and other wading birds.
Day 4
Punta Moreno / Urbina Bay (Isabela Island)
The forces of the Galapagos volcanoes can be easily witnessed here. Afternoon outing (dry landing) for a medium length walk at Punta Moreno (west of Isabela Island) to observe unique lava flows and small lagoons with bird life.
Those who do not wish to take the shore excursion may enjoy a panga ride along the shoreline to observe birds and marine iguanas.
Urbina Bay is an easy wet landing on a gentle sloping beach. This area is very interesting in that it is a perfect example of the geological activity of the islands. In 1954 over 3 miles of the marine reef at the edge of shore were uplifted by 13 feet.